Necktie hanger

ABSTRACT

A necktie hanger having an improved necktie retaining element composed of a flat base portion, opposed straight side portions converging upwardly from the terminal ends of the base portion. Said side portions each join the base portion in a curved portion having a curved interior face, the opposed interior faces of the curved portions functioning to firmly engage opposite edge portions of the necktie and neatly but firmly hold the tie against sliding from the hanger. Means adjusting the lateral extents of the tie retaining elements is also disclosed.

United States Patent m. Kamps [451 Oct. 2, 1973 1 NECKTIE HANGER [76] Inventor: Henry E. Karnps, 11414 Lebanon Rd., Sharonville, Ohio 45341 221 Filedf Feb. 28, 1972 211 App]. No.: 229,769

. [52] US. Cl....i 211/13, 223/D1G. l, 223/88 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 7/12 [58'] Field of Search .(223/85, 88, DIG. l;

[56] References Cited 2,994,462; 18/1 9,61 l11irsch 'et a1. 223/D1G. 1

3,054,538 9/1962 Rubin et a1. 223/88 3,194,457 7/1965 Freilich 223/88 Primary ExaminerGeorge H. Krizmanich I Attorney-Walter S. Murray [57] ABSTRACT v A necktie hanger having an improved necktie retaining element composed of a flat base portion, opposed straight side portions-converging upwardly from'the terminal ends of the base portion. Said side portions each jointhe base portion in a curved portion having a curved interior face, the opposed interior faces of the curved portions functioning to firmly engage opposite edge portions of the necktie and neatly but firmly hold the tie against sliding from the hanger. Means adjusting the lateral extents of the tie retaining elements is also disclosed. Y v

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures NECKTIE HANGER This invention relates to improvements in necktie hangers and more particuarly to a specially formed necktie hanger element which readily accommodates and positively holds a necktie against slipping from said hanger.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel necktie retainer element adapted to firmly engage opposed edge portions of a tie and neatly hold said tie against slipping from the hanger element..

Another object of the invention is to provide a necktie hanger, preferrably bent from a piece of straight wire and having a series of spaced apart, necktie retaining elements formed in its lower reach, each element comprising a straight base portion, opposed straight side portions converging upwardly from the terminal ends of the base portion and each side portion disposed at an acute interior angle with the base portion, each terminal end being connected to a side portion by a curved portion having an interior radius in the element.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a necktie hanger having the foregoing characteristics, a means for adjusting the lateral extents of the retaining elements to adapt them to hold neckties having varying widths. I

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred form of my necktie hanger, the ties held therein being shown in fragmental elevation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmental view of a necktie retaining element, the tie being shown in section and in an initial stage of its accommodation by the element.

' FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 showing thehung stage of the tie held by the necktie retaining element.

7 FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified form of my necktie hanger, the tie held therein being partly broken away and partly shown in section. FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmental, elevational views each depicting a modified form 'of means for adjusting the necktie retaining elements shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the.

drawings.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings,

by the element 13. It has been found that an inside radius of the order of magnitude of the thickness of a necktie to be hung in the retainer element functioned well to prevent slipping of the inserted necktie from the holder.

Upper terminal ends 20 and 21 are formed on the.

side portions 15 and 16, respectively, of the retainer element 13 and are bent on smooth curves away from each other, said terminal ends forming a mouth 22 betion of a conventional necktie 19, having at least one wedge shaped end portion, is hung from the retainer element 13 by manually inserting the narrow portion through the mouth 22 of the element on an angle such as that depicted by dotted lines 23 in FIG. 2, said narrow necktie portion being then allowed to lie flat upon the base portion 14. In this initial position of the necktie in the element it will be noted that the tie width is less than the lateral distance between the inside curved surfaces of the connector portions 17 and 18 of the elemen't. Now by manually sliding the necktie through the element towardits wider portion, a point will be the necktie hanger 10 of this invention preferrably takes the general form of the conventional wire hanger for clothing. The lateral reach 11 of the hanger is preferrably bent from a straight piece of wire 12 and has formed in it, by a bending operation, a spaced apart series of necktie retaining elements 13.

As the necktie retaining elements 13 are similar in construction and functions the following description of one element is thought sufficient for a clear understanding of my improved necktie hanger. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings each necktie retaining element 13 has an intermediate, horizontally disposed straight base portion 14 and opposed straight side portionslS and 16 each joined to a terminal end of the straight base portion 14 by curved connector portion 17 and 18, respectively. The side portions 15 and 16 converge upwardly at an acute, included angle of approximately 25 with the base portion 14, the curved connector portions 17 and 18 each being formed on a radius that provides an interior curved surface for the wire that is of the order of magnitude of the thickness of a wedge-shaped necktie l9 accommodated wider wedge-shaped partresulting in a force tending to pull the tapered width of the necktie into intimate engagement with the curved interior surfaces of the connector portions 17 and 18 of the retainer element. Further, since the radius of the curved interior surfaces are of the order of magnitude of the thickness of the tie, said necktie will-be firmly held in the element against slipping movement until such time as the tie is to be removed from the element best accomplished by manually sliding the tie in the element toward its narrow portion back to the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As depicted by dotted lines 24 in FIG. 3 of the drawings a wider'portion of the necktie may be manually grasped and laterally folded along a central wide portion of the necktie into the shape of a horseshoe whereby the necktie may be inserted through the mouth 22 of the element .and when released will take up the firmly gripped position shown by the full crosssectioned lines of .the necktie in said Figure.

Now with reference to the FIG. 4 of the drawings it will be seen that a single necktie retainer element 13 is preferrably formed from a straight piece of wire bent to provide a supportengagingshook portion 125. The wide portion of the tie 19 has a width substantially greater than the distance between the inside curved surfaces of the connector portions and the lower interior surface of the side' portions 15 and Y16 to secure the necktie in the hanger element against disengagement from the holder.

Now with reference to FIG. 5 of the drawings there is depicted an attachment 25 adapted to adjust the lateral extents of the tie retainer elements 13 shown in FIGS. l-4 of the drawings in order that neckties of The attachment is disposed in side-by-side relationship with the lateral reach 11 of the hanger l and the slots 26 are normally in registry with the retainer elements 13. An eye 27 is formed on one end of the attachment for lateral sliding movement on one end of the reach 11, while the opposed end of the attachment is developed into a loop portion 28 which is resiliently biased to frictionally engage the opposite end of said reach. The retainer elements 13 may therefore be restricted to accommodate narrow neckties by sliding the attachment laterally on the reach 11 into the desired position on the hanger.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a modified form of the attachment 25 wherein a thumb wheel 29 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 30 that is in turn fixed to and depending from the reach 11 of the hanger 10. An internally threaded bore 31 is formed through the hub of the wheel to engage an externally threaded end 32 of a tie retainer restricting attachment like that shown in FIG. of the drawings. By rotating the ,thumb wheelthe lateral extents of the necktie retainer elements 13 may be changed to accommodate narrow neckties of various widths. I

An important feature of my tie retainer elements when used in conjunction with a conventional coat hanger is the assurance that the base portions 14 of the elements will be maintained horizontally thus precluding wrinkling of the neckties because of their otherwise slanted hung positions on the hanger. It is contemplated that my necktie retainer element may be incorporated in forms other than the two shown in the drawings such as hangers to be attached to doors or walls by screw receiving eyelets or as clip-ons to coat hangers and further these forms could be made not only of wire but of wood or plastic materials without a deparature from the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A necktie hanger having a number of laterally spaced necktie retainer elements, each element comprising an intermediate, horizontally disposed straight base portion, opposed straight side portions converging upwardly from the base portion, the upper ends of the side portions being spaced in confronting relationship forming a mouth for the element, and a connector portion joining an end portion of the base portion to each side portion, each of said connector portions being adapted to form confronting interior surfaces that engage the sides ofa necktie to be held in the retainer element, means restricting the lateral extents of the retainer elements, said restricting means having slot shapes cooperable with the retainer elements and each slot normally in registry with a corresponding element, means mounting the restricting means on the holder for limited lateral movement, and adjustment means between the hanger and the restricting means.

2. The necktie hanger set forth in claim I wherein the adjustment means is a resilient loop on the restricting means biased to frictionally engage the hanger.

3. The necktie hanger set forth in claim 1 wherein the adjustment means is a thumb wheel mounted on the hanger, an internally threaded bore formed through the wheel, and an externally threaded, lateral member on the restricting means cooperable with the bore in the thumb wheel.

4. The necktie hanger set forth in claim 1 wherein the connector portion joining an end portion of the base portion to each side portion has an inside radius of the magnitude which is adapted to be of the thickness of the necktie held in the element. 

1. A necktie hanger having a number of laterally spaced necktie retainer elements, each element comprising an intermediate, horizontally disposed straight base portion, opposed straight side portions converging upwardly from the base portion, the upper ends of the side portions being spaced in confronting relationship forming a mouth for the element, and a connector portion joining an end portion of the base portion to each side portion, each of said connector portions being adapted to form confronting interior surfaces that engage the sides of a necktie to be held in the retainer element, means restricting the lateral extents of the retainer elements, said restricting means having slot shapes cooperable with the retainer elements and each slot normally in registry with a corresponding element, means mounting the restricting means on the holder for limited lateral movement, and adjustment means between the hanger and the restricting means.
 2. The necktie hanger set forth in claim 1 wherein the adjustment means is a resilient loop on the restricting means biased to frictionally engage the hanger.
 3. The necktie hanger set forth in claim 1 wherein the adjustment means is a thumb wheel mounted on the hanger, an internally threaded bore formed through the wheel, and an externally threaded, lateral member on the restricting means cooperable with the bore in the thumb wheel.
 4. The necktie hanger set forth in claim 1 wherein the connector portion joining an end portion of the base portion to each side portion has an inside radius of the magnitude which is adapted to be of the thickness of the necktie held in the element. 